We might wonder why the “Transfiguration” is important,
whether to these Apostles, or to us.
Answer: it reveals to us exactly who Jesus is.
When this event takes place, there had been a building question:
Who is Jesus?
Jesus himself asks the question: “who do people say that I am?”
The Apostles say, “John the Baptist, Elijah…one of the prophets.”
He asks again, “Who do you say that I am?”
And Peter blurts out, “You are the Messiah.”
Jesus responds to Peter’s faith by offering even more:
He reveals his plan of salvation:
That he will suffer, die, and rise again on the third day.
Peter struggled with that, but the Lord insists:
If you want to follow me, you must “take up your cross!”
It’s the same difficulty for us: what kind of Messiah do we have?
One who conquers, or who suffers and dies?
It’s both. This is who Jesus is.
The Cross is his glory! That’s where he reigns!
That’s how he conquers the world:
Not the Rambo-Messiah, guns-ablazing—that’s our way.
And if you aren’t sure you think that way, consider:
Haven’t you ever said out loud: “Why does God allow such-and-such?”
There it is.
Jesus conquers by giving his life away,
to make an offering for sin, to reconcile us to God and to one another.
Aren’t you glad Jesus says, I will conquer, not by killing you,
but by dying for you – by winning you!?
Jesus knew the Cross would be a scandal for the Apostles.
So, to sustain them, he lets them see the fuller picture of who he is.
Now, here’s a detail about Moses and Elijah.
Of all the folks in the Bible to whom God spoke,
only these two went up a mountain to see the Lord’s glory.
But that experience was too much to bear for them:
Moses hid in a rock; Elijah covered his head.
Notice they don’t hide; and, neither do the Apostles, or we.
Moses and Elijah have come so much closer to the glory.
I said a moment ago that the Cross remains a scandal.
Lots of us Christians seem to forget
that it isn’t just Jesus, the head, who goes to the cross.
You, and I and all members of the Church are his Body.
The Body goes to the Cross with the Head.
Just as Jesus was humiliated before the world,
We face our humiliations as his followers.
Also, a moment ago, I said that Moses and Elijah got to come closer.
But you and I are even closer now than they were then.
Howso?
For us, the Resurrection, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
the institution of the sacraments, above all, Holy Mass, have happened.
Our “transfiguration” experience isn’t reading this Gospel.
It’s the Holy Mass!
The Mass is that glory which the Gospel describes.
This is the truth Vatican II taught
when it called the Mass “the source and summit” of our faith.
This is why coming to Mass on the Lord’s Day is a grave obligation.
This is why, as helpful as the Internet is for those who cannot come,
Mass on the Internet is not the same as being here.
Imagine if when Jesus said, “come up the mountain with me,”
Peter said, “how about we stay home and watch on the Internet”?
Again: some people can’t come, so they are excused.
But if you can come, how can you refuse?
As many know, our bishops asked all of us to spend this year and next
reflecting more deeply on the Holy Eucharist.
And, of course, you know that our family of three parishes
are in the throes of coming together as one.
Where these two projects intersect is at the Holy Mass.
“Beacons of Light” is far more about revitalization and renewal,
than merely reorganization,
so that our parish not only receives, but transmits, Jesus’ glory.
What is that called? A beacon!
So, one of the guiding principles of “Beacons of Light”
is to foster a renewal of the liturgy;
that is to say, how we come together at the altar,
and experience that glory and share it.
You’ll hear more about that as we go along.
For today, I beg you not to make the mistake of thinking,
“nothing happened at church.”
You were there: deeper in than Moses, Elijah or the Apostles.
But you haven’t missed it: that’s what comes in a moment.
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